domain of anarchy, is the vital principle by which
alone ordered co-operation can be maintained in a
system of divided labour, ought to be a permanent
acquisition of the human mind. It means that
economic life by divided labour is a business to be
settled mainly between the multitude of individuals
dividing the labour between them, and that planning
which would prevent this spells disaster.

Unfortunately this lesson was demonstrated under
a dictatorship the political strength of which is
nourished by a fanatical hatred of the market and a
prophecy of salvation through its final destruction.
Thus the surge of prosperity gained by re-admission
of trading was a political peril to the Communist
Government.

In order to reassert its waning power, the Soviet
Government therefore again went on the offensive in
1927. Private shops and enterprises were again
destroyed and a vast programme of State enterprises
was launched. Three years after this a new
economic disaster forced Stalin once more to a
retreat. Again the market was re-introduced, but
this time State ownership in industry and commerce
was fully retained. Thus the experience of the
Soviets has now proved that, even though the State
is owner of all enterprises, it yet cannot decide on its
own accord what to produce, but has to rely on the
profitability of sales to indicate the usefulness of
every particular activity. Commercial management
is now revealed as far more fundamental than the
system of ownership, which can vary widely while the
market persists.

Clearly, for political reasons, the Soviet Govern-
ment must do everything in its power to prevent
54